The Middle alum Pat Finn’s daughters, Cassidy and Caitlin Finn, have broken their respective silences after their father died at age 60.
“Dad, you were and are a role model and an inspiration to everyone you met. I tried to think of a word to describe you, but no word could ever do it justice,” Cassidy wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, December 23. “You are Pat Finn. The least shocking thing was hearing the nurses say they have never seen so many people show up at a hospital for someone. That was my dad.”
Pat, who died on Tuesday after a battle with bladder cancer, is survived by wife Donna and their three children: Cassidy, Caitlin and Ryan.
“My life is forever changed because of him,” Cassidy wrote in her social media tribute. “He taught me to be funny, positive, humble, to listen, to always try my best, to love and to surround myself with the best people. But most importantly — you taught me kindness.”
She continued, “I’ve never met a single person who had a bad thing to say about my dad. I feel like the luckiest person in the world that I got to call you my dad. Can’t wait to drink an Old Style with you again one day. I love you 10, Dad.”
Cassidy shared a follow-up tribute to her father on Christmas morning.
“My dad posted this picture of him as Santa every year,” Cassidy wrote on Thursday, December 25, sharing a throwback pic of Pat dressed up as the famed character. “Christmas isn’t the same this year without you ❤️. Merry Christmas and Happy holidays to all!”
Cassidy’s sister, Caitlin, replied, commenting, “The best present will always be him as our dad.”
Caitlin also shared her own social media tribute to Pat.
“It’s difficult to put into words how to describe someone like my dad. Mostly because there really was no one like him,” Caitlin wrote in a Tuesday upload. “But lately, I’ve found myself saying the word proud a lot. I’m proud of the life he created. I’m proud of him for following his dreams. I’m proud of him for marrying the love of his life. I’m proud of him for being the most genuine and selfless person every day. I’m proud of him for the fight he fought and never giving up.”
She continued, “I wish we had more time because there are still so many more questions I have, stories I want to hear, and movies I want to watch together, even if we end up talking the whole time. … I’m so lucky to have had 28 years with you. A part of me will never be the same, and I don’t know how the world keeps moving without you in it, but I will carry you with me in everything I do.”
Caitlin further mused that she has found “comfort in knowing [Pat is] out of pain” from his cancer battle.
“I promise I will make you proud everyday,” Caitlin concluded. “Like you said, ‘Life is just the time we spend in between laughs.’ But now Dad, it’s time for you to make some people laugh up there. I love you, 10. Thank you, Dad, and cheers to you forever.”
Pat was beloved for his comedic roles on the likes of The Middle, Seinfeld and Friends.
“One of the reasons [I agreed to appear on Seinfeld was] it was my wife and I’d favorite show,” Pat recalled on a 2021 episode of the “Seinfeld — This Podcast Is Making Me Thirsty” podcast. “It’s one of those things where, as an actor, your job is to know your lines, go in and do your thing and then split. That’s kind of what I expected, and so when I was done with the scene, I’d go over to this table in the middle where they had magazines and newspapers. I just stayed there so I could listen and learn from their rehearsal.”
